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could do no service in the way of correcting nomenclature, unless they 

 could be rendered far more accurate in future ; and also some mode 

 be found and announced, by which a distinction could be made be- 

 tween the then past and the then future labels, — between those which 

 partook so largely of error, and those which I hoped to see more 

 deserving of trust thenceforward. On the labels used up to 1841, the 

 words " Ex herbario Bot. Soc. London," or " Botanical Society of 

 London," were printed conspicuously at the top of the label, above 

 the blank space left for the name of the plant; — a stupid idea, by the 

 by, apparently borrowed from the Edinburgh Society. I suggested 

 that in future those words should always be placed at the bottom of 

 the labels, so as to let the names of the plants be the first words to 

 meet the eye, and thus facilitate the sorting and arranging of speci- 

 mens ; a second advantage being likewise obtained thereby, in the 

 ready distinction which would thus be afforded between past and 

 future labels. 



But as one important step towards rendering any after-dated labels 

 more trustworthy, it was necessary to abolish altogether a most vicious 

 custom previously acted upon to a large extent. I allude to the inane 

 practice of sending any quantity of blank labels, bearing the Society's 

 printed designation, to be used by the individual members in labelling 

 their own specimens. No distinction appeared to have been made 

 between the experienced and the inexperienced botanists, in this 

 practice ; the labels having been promiscuously and lavishly supplied 

 to those who asked for them. There could be little doubt that many 

 specimens, so labelled with the Society's printed forms, would be dis- 

 tributed by the individual members without ever passing under the 

 eyes of the Committe in London. The Society's name was placed at 

 the command of any inexperienced tyro who filled up the labels with 

 the names of his specimens, and what the writer in the ' Phytologist ' 

 calls " the pompous sanction of scientific authority " might in truth 

 be no more than the slender knowledge of the veriest beginner in 

 botany. 



The Secretary readily acquiesced in my earnest recommendations 

 to cease this absurd and mischievous practice of supplying the Socie- 

 ty's blank forms to individual members. But it is much easier for a 

 man of obliging disposition to promise a refusal beforehand, than to 

 make such refusal at the right time. I had afterwards the vexation of 

 discovering that the blank forms were still sent out after my re- 

 monstrance; and in one or more instances this was done, I think, 

 even so late as 1843. Meantime, I had been taking considerable 



